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It was 60 days prior when the young forward was standing on the Stadium of Light pitch, appearing bewildered while Unai Emery admonished him over missing a penetrating pass. Back then, as Villa endured a six-game winless run, the question was whether his displays were an indicator or a cause for the side's more general malaise.

“Following Rogers' second strike… Emery discarded his jacket, extended his arms, and let out a triumphant roar.”

This weekend, however, the touchline reaction proved to be decidedly more positive. When Rogers drilled in his second strike to reclaim the lead for Villa, Emery tore off his winter coat, threw his arms wide and shouted in triumph. Villa continued to ten wins in a row and after failing to win their opening six fixtures, are somehow a mere three points adrift of the leaders Arsenal.

Is Aston Villa Serious Challengers?

This is a rather hard query to resolve. History, a general sense of this institution, indicates otherwise. Additionally, they've rarely been entirely convincing in many games, even as the victories have accumulated.

As per statistical analysis, twice all season has the team registered an expected goals figure notably superior than the other team. For a club who have just won a ten-match winning streak, they appear weirdly vulnerable – but at the moment the tight outcomes are swinging for them.

The Winning Formula

The prevailing tactic appears to be to trade blows with rivals and wait for their star man to rescue them with two clinical strikes. It happened away to Leeds, it transpired at West Ham, and it happened against United.

The initial strike came from an exquisite effort, arced right inside the post from a wide position. For his second was essentially a slightly less clean iteration of his first capitalizing on a pass from Watkins.

“Perhaps Rogers’ right foot is becoming like Arjen Robben’s left: just because you know he’s going to whip the ball into the top corner doesn’t mean you can stop him.”

Can It Last?

Reason suggests otherwise. During the latest victory, Manchester United managed more efforts and more efforts on goal. The team has secured their last eight victories by the narrowest of margins. They’ve conceded in all but one of those fixtures.

A reversion to average could be the greatest opponent the club will encounter over the coming weeks. Rogers, almost certainly, cannot keep on blasting the football past despairing goalkeepers indefinitely.

Reasons for Optimism

Perhaps there is a different scenario whereby, rather than luck running out, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Key players might still return to peak condition.

• Ollie Watkins could start adding to his goal tally.
• Jadon Sancho might become the performer he was in Germany.
• Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres will eventually regain fitness, fortifying a sometimes shaky backline.

Maybe within that lies the potential of a genuine bid, however, it is improbable can persist in leaning entirely on a single individual.

Enjoying the Ride

But then, this was unforeseen. It seemed improbable Aston Villa would occupy third at Christmas. And certainly earlier this season, no one envisioned the young forward as the year closed would be at the forefront of a hunt for the title while looking like a vital Three Lions star.

The current run must be cherished for the very reason that it feels so unlikely. As the match-winner positioned himself before the North End at the final whistle conducting the cheers, he seemed to be loving the experience. A feeling he has rightly earned. Such periods are uncommon in the sport and should be relished.